Dangerous Innocence [ATARAXIA Series #2]

One of them

Ganther Uries Neric Asuncion's point of view

Friendship is a thing easier to build but hardest to keep. I grew up without friends or what. I grew up inside the four corners of my room. Para sa'kin, walang kwenta ang salitang kaibigan dahil mawawala't mawawala rin sila sa buhay natin. Having a friend is more like having a weakness. They'll earn your trust but in the end, they'll be out of the picture in your life. Leaving you shattered and betrayed leads you to your weakest form.

"So, we're friends?" I mumbled while looking at the black chess that I am holding. A beam plastered to my lips.

"What kind of game are you playing with me, Onyx? Keeping me close means more danger aren't right?" I'm not stupid. But I'll play with him. I'll find out what kind of tricks he wants to perform to get rid of me. For the sake of Misha. Ibinaba 'ko ang hawak kong chess king. I grabbed the queen. Misha's smirk appeared in my head all of the sudden.

"You'll enter my stage, Misha. You'll play along with those people. While me? I will secretly be laughing while controlling each one of you."

I woke as the ray of the sun raised to me. Another day. Another day playing with them. I did my morning things before going out. Sa paglabas ko, Kit and Slade are waiting for me.

"At last, Ganther. Let's go I'm hungry." Kit excitedly voiced out. Slade chuckled and disheveled Kit's hair. Napansin 'ko ang biglang pagpula ng tenga ni Kit.

"Hey! Ganther let's go to the cafeteria." I snapped back. I just nod saka sumunod sa kanila. My forehead creased as I saw the others students acting strange. They should be glaring at me. They should be throwing me anything right now like they used to do. But now? They didn't even look at me. As if I'm just an air.

Pagdating namin sa cafeteria. Gano'n pa rin. No one even taking a glance at me-at us.

"It's weird, dapat ngayon puno kana ng pasa. They should be bullying you right now." Kit said as we sat at the table in the corner of the cafeteria.

I took a deep sigh. "Maybe because Onyx and I are now friends,"

Nagulat kami ni Slade ng biglang tumayo si Kit. "WHAT?!" He yelled. Napunta tuloy sa'min ang atensyon ng iba.

I let out a chuckle and pulled Kit down to his seat. " Onyx and I—" I was cut off when a voice from my behind spoke.

"We are now okay." Napalingon ako it's Onyx with others. He's smiling while saying that.

"Can we sit with all of you?" He asked.

I nodded at them. "S-sure," I answered. Umupo naman sila. Onyx sat beside me. I just started eating. Kit, Slade, Alex, Tyren, and even Orion start talking to each other. Na para bang hindi nila binully dati si Kit. They're talking about random things.

"Dang! Dapat pala dati pa tayo nag-usap nerdy kit. Tss." Tyren hissed na sinang-ayunan ng iba.

Alex hugged Kit suddenly. "You are f*cking entertaining. Kala ko puro academics lalabas sa bunganga mo." Napatawa naman ang iba.

I turned to Orion when he poke my arm. "B-bakit?" Inayos 'ko ang suot kong salamin.

"I am glad that, my twin and you are now okay." I nodded.

"Ganther." Napalingon naman ako kay Onyx he's still smiling. Ibang-iba ang aura n'ya compare to the Onyx I met before. He was about to speak when cold water splashed on my face.

"Oopps, sorry hindi ko nakita." Misha acted like she's in panic while saying that. Mahina ko itong tinulak palayo sa 'kin.

"Misha!" Orion and Onyx both almost yelled.

Misha raised her eyebrow as she looked at the twin. "H-hindi ko naman sinasadya—"

"You did it intentionally, Ms. Misha. I saw you." Kit said. Napangisi naman si Misha saka humakbang papalapit kay Kit. Namutla ito. Slade hide Kit behind him kaya lalong napangisi si Misha.

"You're so brave tsk tsk—"

"Babe, stop it." Orion pulled Misha to his side.

"What's wrong with all of you? Why are you sitting with these losers? Talking and laughing with them?" She hissed. Her voice roared to the whole cafeteria. And all the students are now looking. She's making a scene. What a pathetic move. Onyx stood up and face her.

"Stop it, Misha. Okay na kami ni Ganther. And I want him and his friends to be part of our group." Gasped from Misha and other students boomed around.

"W-what? Are you f*cking serious?! Onyx? Mahihina sila. They can't be part of our group. This f*cking faggot is not belong here. He's nothing but a weakling that should be gone in this place." She yelled and point at me.

I want to grin right now. Seeing her frustrated and angry makes me feel better.

"Misha, I am the leader of my group. And since when did you become part of us? You are just my twin's girl but not part of our group. This is my decision and it's final." Onyx almost yelled and he grabbed me away from the cafeteria.

"I'm sorry about that." He apologized we are now on the rooftop of our building department. He let go of my arm and lean to the grills.

"I-it's okay." I heard him heave a sigh.

"Ganther, I want you to be part of our group. The three of you. Kit, Slade, and you."

"B-but we're not like you—" Napatigil ako ng makitang nakatitig ito sa 'kin. The way he looks at me, it's like he wanted to tell me something.

"I want to know you more, Ganther." A weak smile crept on him. "I want to know if you and she are in the same situation. I want to save you. I don't want you to end up like her." He whispered something that I didn't hear.

"W-what?" He just shrugged and walk to closer. The next thing I knew he flashed a smile. Not an ordinary smile. A smile that assured me about something. A smile that gave me a strange feeling. I don't know why but I can feel my heart pounding the moment I saw that beam and his eyes met mine.